Stencil printing machine



Nov., i7, w31. c, L, JHNSTQN ETAL 1,832,216 sTENcIL PRINTING nAcHINEATTORNEYS.

N0V- 17 1931- c. L. JOHNSTON ET A1.A Y 1,832,213

STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 10, 1930 @Sheets-Sheet 2 l. Ii [lMIL 1" "l Ul HWU\ N fl 1 ffm Ncuv. 17, 1931. c. L. JoHNsToN E1- A|1,832,216

STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed-Feb. 10. 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V ENTORS. {f/uva TToRNEYS.

Nov. 17, 1931.

C. L. JOHNSTON ET Al.

sTENoIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1o. 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 17, 1931. c. l.. JoHNsToN E-r AL 1,832,216

STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1o, 1930 e sheets-sheet 5 STENCILPRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 10, 1930 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 vlllln' limi l INVEN TORS.

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TTORNEYS.

Nov. 17; 1931. c. JoHNsToN E1' AL 1,832,216

STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. l0, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Alun" IN VEN TOR5.

6 alu/nca of BY @dumm/6l. /uanAJ 4/ f LM A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 17,` 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE L.JOHNSTON, OF BERKELEY, AND EDWARD A. OWENS, 0F SAN FRANCISCO,CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO SELECTASINE SYSTEM, INC., OF SAN FRANCISCO,CALI# FORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA STENCIL PRINTING MACHINEApplication mea Eebruary 1o, i930. serial No. 427,182.

This invention relates to astencil printing machine and especiall toimprovements on the apparatus or machine disclosed in Patent Number1,687,080, entitled Method and apparatus for stencilingg7 and issued toR. C. Beck, October 9, 1928.

In stencil printing, whether by hand or machineoperation, a stencil isemployed. The stencil comprises a sheet of fabric such as bolting cloth,silk 4or the like, and this is stretched tightly over a frame. Portionsof the fabric are rendered impervious and other portions of the fabricare left open and the open portions are so shaped or arranged as to formthe design to be printed. The material to be printed isl usually flatsheets of h'eavy paper, cardboard or the like. The sheets are placed ina-fiat condition below the stencil.

Paint is poured upon the stencil at one end' and is uniformly spread andforced through the open portions of the fabric by a scraper` or rubbersqueegee after which the stencil is raised and the printed sheetremoved.

Prior to the development of the machine disclosed in Patent Number1,687,080, pracplished by hand operation and the output of work andquality thereof was largely dependent upon the. skill and speed of theoperator. creased the output many times and insured a consistent uniformquality, but practical operation of lthe machine disclosed severalAdefects and suggested improvements. Such improvements form the basisofthe present application and embody a machine capable of greater outputand improved quality; a beto ter method of paint transfer anddistribution;

improved positioning andoperation of the stencll; an Aimprovedimpression cylinder or platen with less tendency to bend or break thesheet of material to be printed upon; 'm1- proved means for aligning andguiding the sheets; provision of -means for dusting or removing foreignmatter from 'the Asheets prior to printing thereof; automatic yactuatedgrippers for securing the sheets to the impression-cylinder during theprinting op-v eration and releasing and discharging the sheetswhemprinted; and pfurthe'r improved Machine stencilling naturally in-'means are provided whereby the squee ee is supported, adjusted andoperated so `t at the pressure exerted upon the stencll fabric `and theunderlined sheet may be readily adiusted for best results.

The machine is shown by wa of illustra.-A

tion in the accompanying rawing's, in whichy Fig. 1 is a side elevationshowing the side where the feeder or operator stands when the machine isin operation, E

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine,

Fig. `3 is a side elevation showing the opposite side of the machine,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation partly broken away to disclose thesqueegee operating mechanism, f

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation partly broken away showing the camswhereby the squeegee, the paperfeed guides and the grippers areoperated, i

Fig. 6 is a cross section' taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 4. o

Fig. 7 is a cross. section taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 4,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevation in sec tion showing the squeegeemechanism, the

paint pan, the sheet grippers, and the sheet feeding guides, and

Fig. 9 is a cross section of the upper portion of the frame showing themanner in which the stencil frame is guided and supported with relationthereto, taken on line IX-IX of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 3, Aindicates a. base plate on which is mounted a pair of interspaced sideand C. Journalled crosswise of the frames is a drive shaft2 which isdriven"from an -electric motor 3 or like source of power through gears 4and 5. Also journalled -crosswise of the frame is a cam shaft 6 which isdriven fromthe drive shaft 2 through the gears indicated at 7 and 8.Secured -on the cam shaft are three sets of cams, which are lbest shownin-Figs. 2 and 5.4 One cam is frames generally indicated at B markedbythe numeral 9 .and will hereinafter be referred to as 'the-squeegeeactuating cam. The second cam is indicated at 10 and will and 15. Crankpin 12 serves the function of transmitting an oscillating movement to animpression cylinder or platen generally indicated at 16. The platenpresents a curved surface 17 having a large radius.. It iscounterweighted as indicated at 18 and oscillating movementistransmitted once during each revolution of shaft .6 'through yaconnecting rod 19. I

The side frames carry a feeding table20 upon which the sheets of paper.to be printed are stacked. The side frames carry side or guide rails 2lwhich are angularly'disposed as clearly'shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The siderails are grooved as indicated at 22 vfrom end to end as shown in Figs.8' and 9, to receive shoes 23 and hanger arms 24, the hanger armsforming a support for a stencil supporting frame generally indicated at25. The shoes and hangers are arranged in pairs', one pair at each endof the stencil supporting frame and means are provided whereby areciprocal movement is transmitted to the stencil supporting frame, themeans employed being rack bars 26 secured to each side of the stencilsupporting frame and intermeshing segmental gears 26a secured t0opposite sides of the platen. Hence during each oscillation of theplaten one complete reciprocal motion will be transmitted to the stencilsupporting frame and the movement will be unitary and at the samesurface speed due to the intermeshing gear segments and racks.

The platen is perhaps best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8. It is securedon a ci'oss shaft 27 and consists of two side frames 16 and 16a whichsupport the respective segmental gears 26a anda work supporting surfaceor curved platen 17, see Fig. 7 lThe frames '16' and 16a arecounterweighted as previously stated and indicated at 18 and thecounterweights are connected by a cross shaft 19a to which theconnecting rod 19. is pivotally secured. The platen carries a number ofgrippeis generally indicated at 29, see Fig. `8, the grippers beingnormally held in a depressed or gripping positionA by means of springs30,

' 55' each gripper 'carries a short rack bar 31' and each rack barintermeshes with a gear 32 secured on a shaft 33 journalled crosswise'Iof theframes 16 and 16a. The springs 30 are secured at theiraupper endsto the grippers 29 and at their lower ends to a cross shaft or rod 34.Shaft 33 projects through the sideframe 16 and carries a crankarm v35yon the outer end of which is secured. a roller 36. 'Elie roller 36isadaptedto engage a cani 37 formed ,on one end of'an arm 38 i which vispivotally" secured to theside frame as at 39, arm 38 being connectedwith a rod 40, see Figs. 4 and 5, the opposite end of which is connectedto a bell crank consisting of two arms indicated at 41 and 42, arm 42having a roller on its outer end which is adapted to be engaged by thegripper actuating cam 10 once during each revolution of shaft 6. Cani l0engages arm 42 when the platen assumes its upper or receivin positionshownwin Figs. 4 and 8', and as suc i exerts a pull'A on rod 40 and arm38 so as to swing cam 38 upwardly against roller 36. This in turn swingsthe crank arm 35 and y shaft 33 in a clockwise direction and as suchcauses the gears 32 which intermesh with the racks 31 to raise thegrippers 29 as shown in- Fig. 8, as each sheet of paper or card--board-is advanced from the table 2O to the grippers, the forward edgethereof will be gripped by the grippers a moment prior to movement ofthe platen in the direction of arrow a as cam 10 will at that momentswing out of engagement with arm 42`and/ thereby permit reverse movementofthe arms 41 and 42 and rod 40,- hence lowering the cam 37 andreversing` motion of. shaft 33, the gears 31 and 32`thereby permittingthe springs 30 to pull the grippers downwardly into engagement with asheet to be printed and as the impression cylinder swings forward thesheet will movewith it and a print or impression will be made as willhereinafter be described.

In order that the feeder or operator may have suflicient time to deliverthe sheet to the gripping fingers a plurality of guides .ment of theplatem The guides 44 are ac tuated bvgthe cam 1l through means of rod45. see Figs. 4 and 5, and a crank arm 46. this arm being secured on across shaft 47 to which the guides 44 are adjustably secured asindicated atl 48. Cam 1l engages aA roller on the lower end of the rod45 which is forkshaped as shown in Fig. 5 and the cam moves out ofengagement with the roller and rod 45 the moment the impression cylinderreaches discharging position. this permits rod '45 and crank arm 46 tomove in the direction of arrow b, see Figi-1 4, and the guides are thusdepressed or lwered into aposition to stop and align the sheet which isfed. i

forwardlv by the Noperator and the sheet is left in this position untilthe platen is returned to the upper or receiving position shown in Fig.8, where it is engaged, gripped and remo-ved by the grippers 29 aspreviously described.

' The grippers vare 'rais-ed' Vand l the printed sheet released when theplaten H reaches its lowermost position by means of a stationary camindicated at 50, see Fig. 5. Roller 36 secured on crank arm 35 engagesthis cam when the lowermost position of the platen is reached. Shaft 33is accordingly rotated and this rotary motion is transmitted through thegears 32 and the rack bars 31 to raise the grippers. A stripping plate51 extending crosswise of the machine will at the same time enterbetween the platen and the printed sheet and the moment it has enteredit will be rocked in a direction of arrow o by means of a rocker arm 52which is actuated by one or another of the cams indicated at 13, 14 and15. Rocking movienient of the stripping plate 51 raises the forward edgeof the sheety above the grippers and thus permits the sheet to fall bygravity onto a conveyor belt.53, which is driven through a-sprocketchain 55 Jfrom drive shaft 2 and the sheet is thus removed and deliveredto a second conveyor 54 when-the printing operation is completed. Thegrippers are released the moment the roller 36 moves out of engagementwith the cam and will not be raised again until cam 37 is engaged. I

The stencil employed in the present instance is of standard form. Itconsists of a frame 55 over which is stretched a fabric such as boltingcloth, silk or the like, as Aindicated at 56 portions of the sui-faceare rendered impervious, for instance, by the application of shellac orother masking materials and other portions are left open, the openportions being so shaped and arranged as to form the design orimpression desired during the printing operation. Frame 55 carrying thestencil fabric is secured in the stencil supoiting frame 25 in anysuitable manner as y quoins such `as shown at 55a and it moves in unisonwith frame 25 and the platen both during the printing and the returnoperation.

The general method of distributing the paint and transferring it throughthe surface of the stencil is substantially identical to that disclosedin the Beck Patent Number 1,687,080. The stencil is so mounted as tomove in one plane, in this instance, on a considerable angle withrelation to a horizontal plane. The work or sheet to be printed isdeposited on the curved surface of the platen 17 so as to maintain aline of contact between the stencil and the sheet. Means are thenprovided to-wit,. a squeegee for forcing the paint through the openportions of the sten# cils onto the sheet on said line ofcontact and thestencil and sheet are moved relatively and in unison so that the line ofcontact .between the stencil andthe sheet will be advanced from one endof the sheet to the other. vThe diffeignces between the mechanismemployed in the'present instance and that disclosed in the) patentpreviously referred to are, first,

the provision of a segmental shaped platen of large radius so as toreduce any tendency to excessively bend or break the sheet to be printedupon. Secondly, disposing the stencil on an incline and tangent to thesurface of the platen; and third, in providing an improved squeegeeadjusting and operating mechanism.

The squeegee consists of a rubber blade or scraper generally indicatedat 60, see Figs. 6 and 8. It is secured between a pair of plates 61which are adjustably secured between a pair of guide plates 62, saidguide plates being disposed at opposite ends of the plates 61, see Fig.6. The guide plates are secured at their upper ends to a cross bar 63whichis secured between the outer ends of a pair of crank arms 64. Thesearms are secured on a shaft 65 which in turn is journalled in bearingsmounted on a cross bar 66 extending crosswise of the frames B and C andsecured thereto by bracket members 67.

One end of shaft 65 is extended as shown at l 68 and a crank arm 69 issecured on the outer end thereof, this crank arm being connected with arod 70 the lower end of which is connected with a bell crank consistingof arms 71 and 72. The outer end of arm 72mis provided witha roller andthis is adapted to be engaged by the cam 9 which has previously beenreferred to as the squeegee actuating cam. Once during each revolutionof shaft 6 cam 9 engages the roller onvthe outer end of arm 72, arocking motion is in this in anner transmitted to the bell crankcomprising the arms 71 and 72 and a pull is exerted on rod 70 and crankarm 69, thus rotating shaft 65 and crank arms 64 in a direction whichwill swing the outer ends of the crank arms 64 inan upward direction andthereby raise cross bar 63, the guiding brackets 62, the plates 61adjustably secured therebetween and the squee'gee 60. When the cam 9moves out of engagement with the roller on arm 72 'a reverse movement istransmitted and cross bar 63 together with guide brackets 62,

-plates 61 and squeegee 60 will be lowered into reached its lowermostposition. At that time cani 9 again engages arm 72 and .transmits -areverse motion which raises the squeegee and thereby permits thestencilscreen to return and the platen to swing back to receivingposition. i Q

The squeegee when lowered .1s maintained in engagement with the stencilsurface and Vthe underlying workwith a predetermined 61 .which supportthe squeegee late. -`By turning the screws 75 and then loc zing them bythe lock nuts as shown it is possible to raise and lower the squeegeeplate and the rese sure exerted upon the stencil surface an theunderlying work may thus be readily regulatedlto obtain best results.The' pressure exerted is, ofcourse, caused by the tension of the springs74 but as cam 9 and the intermediate connections limit the downwardmovement any adjustment of screws 75 will vary the pressure exerted.

Operable in conjunction with the squeegee is a paint 'pan orscoopcomprising a plate such as indicated at 78, see Fig. 8. This panextends from end to end of the squeegee blade and is movable yverticallyin unison therewith and it is also movable laterally away therefrom. Thepaint pan is secured to apair of brackets 79-slidably mounted on rods80, there being one rod 80 and bracket 79 at each end of the pan 78. Therods 80 are vsecured in brackets 81 which .in turn are .se-

cured to the guide brackets 62, seeFig. 6. Springs 82 surround the rods80 and are interposed between the brackets 79 and 81 and as such tend tomove the brackets 79 outwardly against stop collars 83 secured on therods, such outward movement being cushioned bysprings 84. The brackets79 as previously stated carry the paint pan or scoop 78 and the paintpan and brackets normally assume the position shown in Fig. 8 therebymaintaining the springs 82 in a compressed condition. The brackets y7 9are retained in this position by means of a pair of latches 85 pivotallysecured to the brackets 81 as indicated at 86. The opposite ends of thelatches engage pins 87 on brackets 7 9 and as such retain the lower edgeof the paint pan in engagement with the squeegee blade as shown in Fig.8. Brackets 79 and 8O are carried by the guide brackets 62 and the paintpan will accordingly move vertically in unison with the squeegee bladewhen this is` raised and lowered. It will however be noted that a pairof cam members are secured to the stencil supporting frame as indicatedat 88, one of the cams being shown in Fig. 4. The cams 88 assume theposition shown in Fig. 4 whenthe stencil supporting frame has reachedits uppermost position and as such will engage pins 89 secured on thelatches 85 when the squeegee is lowered.l The latches are thus raisedand swung about their pivots 86 and as such move out of engagement withf the pins 87 on the brackets 79, hence releasagainst' the resilientstop collars 83. Paint "assaaio Apreviously deposited in the pan orscoop will 'A indicated at 91 secured at the upper end of the stencilsupporting frame will engage a pair of pins 92 secured to the bracket79. The brackets will thus be moved inwardly' on the rods 80 and as' thelatches 85 are spring actuated they will ride over and engage the pins87, thus locking the brackets 79 l'which carry the paint pan 78' whenthe paint pan has moved into engagement with the squeegee blade. Thismovement of the paint pan towards the squeegee blade causes the surpluspaint to be scooped up against the surface of the squeegee and as thesqueegee will be raised immediately thereafter by the action of the cam6 the squeegee together with the paint pan and the paint'scooped upthereby will be held in an elevated position during the return movementof the stencil and the platen and no paint will be transferred. Duringthe next operation of the stencil and platen the squeegee and the paintpan is lowered the moment the stencil starts downwardly in unison withthe platen and the moment the squeegee is lowered latches 85 arereleased and the paint pan is moved laterally or -away from the squeegeeso as to deposit the paint onthe surface of the stencil therebypermitting transfer thereof through the open portions of the stencilduring the impression or printing operation.

All operations so far described are entirely automatic and require noattention on the part of the operator whatsoever, all his attentionbeing directed toward the feeding of the sheets one by one intoengagement with the guides indicated at 44. It will of course beunderstood that he stops and starts the machine whenever necessary, thisbeing accemplished by`merely stepping on a foot treadle such as shown at94. This foot treadle rotates a shaft 95 which in turn actuates a clutch96 on-the main drive shaft. When this clutch is thrown out driving shaft2 comes-to rest and so does the remaining mechanism 4as all mechanism isoperated thereby.

By referring to Figs. 4 and 8, it will be noted that the forward edge ofthe feeding -wardly projecting lingers such as indicated at 97. Theseextend substantially to the" point of the grippers and serve thefunction of maintaining the paper sheets delivered to the guides out ofcontact with the curved surface of the platen during its returnmovement.

Lesaaie thereof are permanently blocked out or rendered impervious asindicated by the heavy shade lines at 98. The `lower end of the stencilis similarly blocked out but this is not shown. The 'permanently blockedout sur-A faces indicated at 98 in actual practice form paint supportingsurfaces, the paint being gathered or scooped up on the surface 98 atthe upper end of the stencil and being deposited onthe lower blocked outsurface 98 prior to transfer through the open surfaces of the stencil.The inclined position of the stencil is important. rIhis is best shownin Figs. l and 8. Such inclination causes any surplus paint to runtowards the squeegee or scraper 60 and as such is always gathered up bythe paint pan or scoop during each scooping operation.

While certain features of the present invention are more or lessspecifically described, we wish it understood that various changes maybe resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, thatthe materials and finishes of the several parts employed may be such asthemanufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having lthus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is- 1. In a machine of the character described, acurved platen, a stencil, means disposing the stencil on an angle withrelation to a horizontal plane and on a tangent to the surface of theplaten, means for introducing material to be printed between the stenciland the platen, grippers on the platen for holding the material inengagement with the surface of the platen, means whereby an oscillatingmovement is transmitted to the platen and a simultaneous reciprocalmovement to the stencil so that a rolling contact will be made betweenthe material to be, printed Vand the surface of the stencil, and meansfor forcing pigment through the stencil on the .line of contact betweenthe stencil and the material.

2. In a machine of the character described, a segmental shaped platen, astencil spaced from the platen, means disposing the stencil on an an lewith relation to a horizontal plane an on a tangent to the surface ofthe platen, means for introducing material'to be printed'between thestencil and the platen, grippers on the platen for maintaining thematerial in engagement -with the surface of the platen, means whereby anoscillating movement is transmitted to the platen and a simultaneousreciprocal movement to the stencil so that a rolling contact will bemade betweenthe material to be printed and the surface of the stencil, ascraper vertically disposed with relation to a horizontal plane andangularly disposed with relatinn to the .surface of the stencil, andmeans whereby the scraper is moved into engagement with the stencil soas to bring a line of the stencil surface into engagement with thematerial to be printed.

3. In a machine of the character described a segmental shaped platen, astencil spaced from the platen, means disposing the stencil on an anglewith relation to a horizontal plane and on a tangent to the surface ofthe platen, means for introducing material to be printed between thestencil and the platen, grippers on the platen for maintaining thematerial in engagement with the surface of the platen, means whereby anoscillating movement is transmitted to the platen and a simultaneousreciprocal movement to the stencil so that a rolling contact will bemade between the material to be printed and the surface of the stencil,a squeegee vertically disposed. with relation to a horizontal plane andangularly disposed with relation 'to the surface of the stencil, meanswhereby the squeegee is moved into engagement with the surface of thestencil, and means for regulating the pressure exerted by the squeegeeon the stencil and the underlying material to be printed.

4. ln a machine of the character described, a segmental shaped platen, astencil spaced from the platen, means disposing the stencil on an anglewith relation to a horizontal plane and on a tangent to the surface ofthe platen, means for introducing material to be printed between thestencil and the platen, grippers on the platen for maintaining thematerial in engagement with the surface of the platen, means whereby anoscillating movement is transmitted to the platen and a simultaneousresciprocal movement to the stencil sothat a rolling contact will bemade between the material to be printed and the surface of the stencil,a scraper vertically disposed with relation to a horizontal plane andangularly disposed with relation to the surface of the stencil, meanswhereby the scraper is moved into engagement with the surface of thestencil, and means for maintaining a supply of pigment on the surface ofthe stencil and adJacent one side of the scraper.

5. In a machine of the character described, a segmental shaped platen, astencil spaced from the platen, means disposing the stencil on an anglewith relation to a horizontal plane and on a tangent to the surface ofthe platen, means for introducing material to be printed between thestencil and the platen,

stencil so that a rolling contact will be made between the material tobe printed and the surface of the stencil, a scraper vertically disposedwith relation to a horizontal lplane an angularly disposed with relationto the surface of t e stencil, means whereb the scraper is movedinto'engagement wit the surface of the stencil, means for maintaining asupply of pigment on the surface of the stencil and at one side of thescraper while the scraper is maintained in engagement with the surfaceof the stencil, and means for removing the supply of pigment from thesurface of the stencil when the scraper is moved away from the surfaceof the stencil.

6. In a machine of the character described a segmental shaped platen, astencil spaced from the platen, means disposing the stencil on an anglewith relation to a horizontal plane and on a tangent to the surface ofthe platen, ineans for introducing material to be printed between thestencil and the platen, grippers -on the platen for maintaining thematerial in engagement with the surface of the platen2 means whereby anoscillating movement 1s transmited to the platen and a simultaneousreciprocal movement to the stencil so that a rolling contact will bemade between the material to be printed and the surface of the stencil,a scraper vertically disposed with relation to a horizontal plane andangularly disposed with relation to the surface of the stencil, meanswhereby the scraper is moved into engagement with the surface of thestencil, a paint pan disposed -adjacent one side of the scraper andcontaining a supply of pigment, means for lowering the paint pan inunison with the scraper and for imparting lateral movement to the paintpan away from the scra er so as to deposit the pigment on the su ace ofthe stencil while the scraper is maintained in engagement therewith, andmeans for moving the paintpan toward the scraper and for elevating it inunison with the scraper when the scraper is moved away from'the surfaceof the stencil so as to remove the pigment from the surface of thestencil. f

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with theplaten and means forl transmitting an oscillating movement thereto, of aplurality of grippers projecting throughthe surface of the platen, saidplaten adapted to assume a receiving position and a dischargingposition, means whereby the toward discharging position, other means lgrippersare automaticallyelevated when the platen resumes a receivingposition, said means automatically causing-de ression of the grippersprior to movement o the platen whereby the ippers are automaticallyelevated when te laten` reaches dischar 'ng position, and a p urality ofguide mem ers co-operating withv the grippers.

8. In a machine of the character described, the -combinationwith theplaten-. and means for transmitting an v oscillating movement thereto,ofa plurality of grippers projecting through theY surface of a platen,`said platen adapted to assume a receiving position and a dischargingposition, means wherel 'i ly depressed during movement of the platenlfrom discharging toward receiving position, said means automaticallyelevating the guide members prior to movement of the platen fromreceivin to discharging position.

9.1 In a mac ine of thin?J character described, a p aten, a plurality ogrippers projecting through the face thereof, a rack bar on eachgripper', a cross shaft journalled in the platen, a plurality of gearssecuredbn said shaft and intermeshing'with the rack bars'of thegrippers, a crank arm on the shaft, means for transmitting anoscillating movement to the platen, said platen assuming a receivingposition and a discharging position during oscillation thereof, and astationary cam engageable with the crank arm when the platen reaches adischargingposition and impartin an oscillating' movement to the crosssha and gears so as to transmit elevating movement to the rack bars andthe 'ga-ippers actuated thereby. j

10. In a mahinI of thfe character described, a laten, a ura it o rip ersro'ecting thiiough thepface thZreoLg a ralck br o]n each gripper, a cross shaft journalled in the platen, a plurality of gears secured onsaid shaft v and .intermeshing with the rack bars of the grippers', acrank arm on the shaft, means for transmitting an oscillating movementto the platen, said platen assuming a receiving position andadischarging position during oscillation thereof, stationary camengageable with the crank arm when the platen reaches" a dischargingposition and imparting an oscillating movement-to the cross shaft andgearsso as to transmit elevating movement to the rack bars and thegrippers actuated thereby, and a movable cam engageable with guide-'members cfa-operating therewith, and

'automatically actuated means maintaining the guide members insubstantial contact with the surface of the tplaten during movement inone dlrectlon, sai means automatically lelee of the character described,alplaten mounted for oscillating movement,

vating the guide members during movement of the platen in an oppositedirection.

12. In a machine of the character described, a platen adapted to beoscillated and movable during oscillation from a receivingto adischarging position, a plurality ofngrippers on the platen and adaptedto grip and secure material fed thereto when the platen assumes areceiving position, means whereby the grippers are moved to release thematerial prior to the platen reaching discharging position, a stripperplate adapted to be introduced between the surface of the platen and thematerial, and means for transmitting an oscillating movement to thestripper plate to raise the material above the grippers and to assistgravity discharge of thematerial with relation to the platen..

13. In a machine of the character described, a platen, a stencilco-operating therewith, a squeegee and paint delivering mechanismcooperating with the stencil, grippers mounted von the platen, a drivingshaft, means on said shaft whereby an oscillating movement istransmitted to the platen and a simultaneous reciprocal movement to thestencil, a plurality of cams on the drive shaft, and means whereby saidcams automatically actuate the grippers and the squeegee together withthe paint delivery mechanism.

14. In a machine of the character described, a platen, a stencilco-operating therewith, a squeegee and paint deliveringmechanism-cooperating with the stencil, grippers mounted a platen,

on the platen, a driving shaft, means on said shaft whereby anoscillating movement is transmitted to the platen and a simultaneousreciprocal movement tothe stencil, a plurality of cams on the driveshaft, means whereby saidcams automatically actuate 'the grippers andthe squeegee together with the paint delivery mechanism, and astationary'camwhereby the grippers are intermittently actuatedindependently of said first named means.

15. In a machine of the character described, a stencil co-operatingtherewith, a squeegee and paint delivering mechanism cooperating withthe stencil, grippers mounted on the platen, a driving shaft, means onsaid shaft .whereby an oscillating movement is transmitted to the platenand a simultaneous reciprocal movement to the stencil, a plurality ofcams on the drive shaft, means whereby said cams automatically actuatethe grippers and the squeegee together with the paint deliverymechanism, a stationary cam whereby the grippers are i termittentlyactuated independently of saidfirst named means, a stripping platedisposed adjacent the stationary cam, and a plurality of cams on thedrive shaft whereby `an oscillating movement is transmitted to thestripping plate.

16. In a machine of the character described, a platen, a stencilco-operating therewith, a

squeegee and paint delivering mechanism cooperating with the stencil,grippers mounted on the platen, a driving shaft, means on said shaftwhereby an oscillating movement is transmitted to the platen and asimultaneous reciprocal ity of cams on the drive shaft, means wherebysaid cams automatically actuate the grippers and the squeegee togetherwith the paint delivery mechanism, a stationary cam whereby the grippersare intermittently actuated independently of said first named means, a

' stripping plate disposed adjacent the stationary cam, a plurality ofcams on the drive shaft whereby an oscillating movement is transmittedto the stripping plate, guide members cooperating with the grippers, anda cam on the drive shaft whereby the guide members are automaticallyraised and lowered with relation to the surface of the platen.

17. In a machine of the character described, al stationary trame, asquecgee, a trame supporting the squeegee and vertically movable in thestationary frame, a paint pan supported by the squeegeeframe andvertically movable in unison' therewith, a stencil frame reciprocallymounted below the squeegee, means whereby reciprocal movement ot thestencil frame in one direction is transmitted to move the paint pantowards the squeegee and into engagement therewith,

means automatically engaging the pan and securing it with relation tothesqueegee and its trame, spring means engaged by the pan and adapted tobe compressed during movement of the paint pan towards the squeegee, andmeans actuated by reciprocal movement of the stencil in an oppositedirection for releasing tlie pan to permit the spring means to move thepan away from the squeegee.

18. In a machine of the character dcscribed, a stationary trame, asqueegee, a frame supporting the squeegee and vertically movable in thestationary frame, a pair of rods secured to the squeegee trame, a paintpan slidably mounted on the rods and movable into and out of engagementwith the lsqUeegee, springs on the rods and engageable with the pan andnormally maintaining the pan out of engagement with the squeegee, a

lstencil reciprocally mounted below the squeegee, means wherebyreciprocal movement ot the stencil. in one direction is transmitted tomove the paint pan into engagement with the squeegee, a latch pivotallymounted on the squecgee frame and engageable with the pan Vto secure itwhen in engagement with the squeegee, and a cam carried by the stenciland engageable with the latch to release the saine during reversemovement of the stencil to pei'- mit the springs to move the pan out ofengagement with the squeegee.

19. In a machine of the character described, a segmental, shaped platen,a feed table disposed adjacent the same, a plurality movement to thestencil, a pluralof guide members disposed above the .feed table and theplaten and movable to and away from the surface of the platen, saidplaten adapted to assume a receiving position and a )0. In av machine ofthe character de-l scribed, a segmental shaped platen, a feed tabledisposed adjacent the same, a plurality of guide members disposed abovethe feed table and the platen and movable to and away from the surfaceof the platen, said platen adapted to assume a receiving position and adischarging position, automatically actuated means transmitting movementto depress the guide members during movement of the platen fromdischarge to receiving position, a plurality of fingers on the feedtable and extending from the forward edge of the feed table to the guidemembers, said 80- ngers maintaining a paper sheet moved into registerwith .the guide members from engaging the surface of the platen duringmovement thereof from discharging to receiving position, a plurality ofgrippers carried by the platen and engageable lwith the aper sheetsupported by the fingers and he d by the guide members, means'automatically raising the guide members away from the platen when thegrippers move into engagement with the paper-sheet, and means.automatically depressing the grippers into gripping engagement with-thepaper sheet substantially simultaneous with raising of the guidemembers. l

21. In a machine of the character described,

g a segmental shaped platen, a feed table disposedadjacent the same, aplurality of guide members disposed' above the feed table and the platenand movable to and away from the surface of the platen, said platenadapted to lassume a receiving position and a discharging position,automatically actuated means transmittin movement'to depress the guidemembers uring movement of the platen from discharge to receivingposition.,

a plurality of fingers on the feed table and.l

extending from the forward edge of the feed table to the guide members,said fingers maintaining a pa er sheet moved into register with the guie members from engagin' the surface of the platen during movementt ereofAfrom discharging to' receiving position, a plurality of gripperscarried by the platen .andl engageable with the paper sheet su ported bythe fingers and held by the guide members, means automatically raisinglthe guide members away from the platen whenI the grippers move intoengagement with the paper sheet, means automatically depressing thegrippers into gripping engagement with the paper sheetl substantiallysimultaneous with raising of the guide members, said grippers securingthe forward edge of the paper sheet with relation to the curved' surfaceof the platen, and other means engageable with the sheet of paper andmaintaining the remaining portion of the sheet in engagement with acurved surface of the platen during movement of the platen fromreceiving to discharging position.

22. In a machine of the character described, a segmental shaped platen.a feed 'table disposed adjacent tlie same, a plurality of guide membersdisposed above the feedtable and the platen and movable to and away fromthe surface of the platen, said platen adapted to assume' a receivingposition and a discharging position, automatically actuated meanstransmitting movement to depress the guide members during move-ment ofthe platen from discharge to receiving position, a plurality of fingerson the feed table and extending from the forward edge of the feed tableto the guide members, said fingers maintaining a paper sheet movedinto-register with the guide members from engaging the surface of theplaten during Inoveinent thereof from discharging to receivingposition', aplurality of grippers carried by the platen and engageablewith the paper sheet supported by the lingers and held by the guidemembers, means automatically raising the, guide members away from t-helplaten when the grippers move into engagement with the paper sheet,means automatically depressing the grippers into gripping engagementwith the paper sheet substantially simultaneous with raising of theguide members. said grippers securing the forward edge of the papersheet with relation to the curved surface ofthe platen, and rollersengageable with the -sheet of paper and -maintaining it in contact withthe curved surface of the platen during movement o'f the plateny fromreceiving to discharging 'position'.

CLARENCE L. JOHNSTON EDWARD A. OWENS.

